Container system with interlock

ABSTRACT

A container system for use with a forklift includes a plurality of containers. Each container includes a container body having corner interlocking structure cooperatively arranged whereby adjacent containers are connectable to each other, a base secured relative to the container body, and dimensioned to support the container body and being adapted to couple with the blade of the forklift to permit placement and transport of the containers in an interlocked relation thereof and a cover mountable to the container body.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention is generally directed to container systems, and,in particular, is directed to a container system with an interlockingmechanism to secure the containers relative to each other duringtransport and storage. The present invention further relates to aself-palletizing container system.

2. Description of Related Art

Current package or container shipping systems require 1) containers orboxes for storing goods; 2) a palette upon which the containers arestacked; and 3) wrapping to maintain the containers together and on thepalette during shipping. However, these known systems are deficient in anumber of ways. For example, known container systems require separatepaletting, incorporate excess wrapping material and are labor intensivewith respect to storage and processing at job sites or warehouses.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention overcomes the deficiencies of knownshipping systems by providing an interlocking-palletized-containersystem which eliminates much of the waste inherent in current systems.

A container system for use with a forklift includes a plurality ofcontainers. Each container includes a container body having cornerinterlocking structure cooperatively arranged whereby adjacentcontainers are connectable to each other, a base secured relative to thecontainer body, and dimensioned to support the container body and beingadapted to couple with the blade of the forklift to permit placement andtransport of the containers in an interlocked relation thereof and acover mountable to the container body. Each container may include asingle pedestal, whereby the distance between the pedestals of adjacentcoupled containers is at least equal to the width of the blade of theforklift. Each container body may include male and female connectormembers. The male and female connectors of adjacent containers cooperateto connect the adjacent containers. The male and female connectors eachmay extend for less than half the height of the container body. Eachcontainer may include two male connectors disposed in diametricalcorners of the container body, and two female connectors disposed indiametrical corners of the container body.

In embodiments, the cover may include a contoured surface and the basemay include a corresponding contoured surface. The contoured surfacesinterlock to couple vertically stacked containers.

The interlocking structure is dimensioned and arranged to directlycouple three or four containers.

The container system is self-palletized in that its use is independentof any need for a separate or individual pallet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated byreference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single container of the containersystem in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the single containerillustrating the base, the container body and the cover;

FIGS. 3-4 are first and second side plans of the single container;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 ofFIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A-6D are top plan, first side plan, second side plan and bottomplan views of the base of the single container;

FIGS. 7A-7C are top plan, first side plan and second side plan viewsrespectively of the container body of the single container;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the container body of the single containerillustrating the interlock mechanism;

FIGS. 9A-9B are top plan and bottom plan views of the cover of thesingle container;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating assembly of two adjacent containers;

FIG. 11 is a view of four containers in interlocked relation;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating two containers in stackedrelation; and

FIGS. 13-14 are first and second side elevation views illustrating twocontainers in interlocked relation with a fork lift “f” blade depictedwithin the gaps defined between the containers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the container system in accordance with theprinciples of the present disclosure is illustrated. The containersystem 1 includes a plurality of containers, which are adapted tointerlock horizontally in side-by-side relation and also interlockvertically in stacked relation. The container system may be adapted foruse with or without a forklift, and in one embodiment, is dimensionedsuch that the legs of the forklift can engage interconnected containersfor transport and storage. FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a single container 10 ofthe system 1. Each container 10 includes a base 12, a container body 14mountable to the base 12 and a cover 16 which is mountable to thecontainer body 14.

With reference to FIGS. 6A-6D, in conjunction with FIGS. 1-5, the base12 is dimensioned to support the container body 14 and is adapted tocouple with the blade of the forklift to permit placement and transportof the containers 10 in an interlocked relation thereof. In oneembodiment, the base 12 includes lower and upper members 18, 20interconnected by a pedestal 22. The lower member 18 includes a generalracetrack shaped recess 24 defining a general oval outer contour orinner protrusion 25 on the underside of the lower member 18. (See alsoFIG. 5) The upper member 20 includes a generally elongated X-shapedprotrusion 26 on its upper surface. A pair of spaced openings 28receives respective bolts or screws 30 extending along the length of thepedestal 22 for coupling the base 12 to the container body 14 (see alsoFIGS. 2 and 5). As best depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pedestal 22defines gaps 32 a, 32 b on each side of the pedestal 22. The respectivelengths “11”, “12” of each gap are substantially equal. When coupledwith an adjacent container 10 the cumulative distance between thepedestals 22 of adjacent interlocked containers 10 is at least equal tothe width of the blade of the forklift such that a gap is definedtherebetween for reception of the blade. Thus, the forklift blade mayengage the interlocked containers 10 from any side of the containerbodies 12.

With reference now to FIGS. 7A-7C, in conjunction with FIGS. 1-5, eachcontainer body 10 includes an outer wall 34 defining an inner volume 36for storage of goods. The corners 38 of the outer wall 34 are planarwall segments. Each corner 38 interlocks with a respective corner 38 ofan adjacent container 10. In one embodiment, each container body 14includes at least one or two male connectors 40 and at least one or twocorrespondingly dimensioned female connectors 42. The male connectors 40are received within the female connectors 42 of an adjacent container 10to releasably couple the containers 10 to each other during transport orstorage. In one embodiment, each container body 14 includes a maleconnector 40 on diametrically opposed corners 38 and a female connector42 on the remaining diametrically opposed corners 38. The male andfemale connectors 40, 42 extend for only a portion of the verticalheight of the container body 14. In some embodiments, the lengths of themale and female connectors 40, 42 extend for less than 50% of the heightof the container 14, or less than 33% or less than 25%. This facilitatesmaneuvering and interlocking of the male and female connectors 40, 42 aswill be discussed hereinbelow.

With particular reference to FIG. 8, further details of the interlockmechanism will be discussed. The male connectors 40 are generallyT-shaped having a leg segment 44 depending from the corner 38 and across-bar segment 48 connected to the leg segment 44. The cross bar 48includes a planar outer surface 50 which leads to curved outer cornersurfaces 52. At the junctures of the leg segment 44 and the cross bar 48are internal inwardly curved or concave surfaces 54 which arecoterminous with the outer corner surfaces 52 and arranged about aradius of curvature “k”. The female connectors 42 each include spacedlegs 56 defining an internal chamber or volume 58 for receiving two maleconnectors 40 of adjacent containers 10. The legs 56 define innergenerally concave surfaces 60 adjacent the corner 38, arranged about aradius of curvature “m”, which extend to outer outwardly curved orconvex surfaces 62. As will be appreciated from the discussionhereinbelow, the curved surfaces 52, 54, 60, 62 of the male and femaleconnectors 40, 42, in conjunction with the cooperative structure of theconnectors 40, 42 facilitate mounting and interlocking of the containersrelative to each other.

Referring again to FIGS. 7C and 8, in conjunction with FIG. 5, thebottom wall 64 of the container body 12 includes a generally x-shapedprotrusion 66 defining a general x-shaped recess 67 on the underside ofthe bottom wall 64, which extends through the corners 34. The protrusion66 and accompanying recess 67 generally correspond in dimension to thex-shaped protrusion 26 of the base 12. The protrusions 26, 66 interlockduring assembly of the base 12 to the container body 14. The bottom wall64 also includes two openings 68 (FIG. 7A and FIG. 8) which may bethreaded to receive the screws 30 extending through the base 12 tocouple the components. In the alternative lock nuts (not shown) may beused in lieu of threaded openings.

With reference to FIGS. 9A-9B, in conjunction with FIGS. 1-5, the cover16 includes an outer general racetrack shaped protrusion 70 defining ageneral oval outer contour or inner recess 72. The protrusion 70 and therecess 72 of the cover 16 are corresponding in dimension to therespective racetrack shaped recess 24 and the oval protrusion 26 of thebase 12 to interlock and stabilize vertically stacked containers 10. Inparticular, the protrusion 70 and recess 24 of the cover 16 and the base12 respectively are sufficient in depth to interlock the verticallystacked containers 10 in a manner which will eliminate lateral movementunder normal storage and transport conditions. The cover 16 fits overthe edge of the outer wall 34 of the container body 12 in snap relation,friction fit, etc. therewith.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a process for interlocking containers 10 ofthe system will now be discussed. Two assembled containers 10 arepositioned in side-by-side relation. One segment 48 a of the cross bar48 of a male connector 40 is positioned within the inner volume 58 ofthe female connector 42. The curved outer surface 52 of the segment 48 aengages the convex and concave surfaces 62, 60 (see also FIG. 8) and maybe rotated along the surfaces 62, 60 in the direction of directionalarrow “t” to place the containers in side-by-side relation. It isenvisioned that the male connectors 40 may also be resilient topartially flex during positioning of the segments 48 a within a femaleconnector 42 of an adjacent container 10. In the alternative, a maleconnector 40 of one container 10 may be interlocked with a femaleconnector 42 of an adjacent container 10 by vertical positioning, viafrom above or below, the male connector 40 within the female connector42. 42. The respective lengths of the male and female connectors 40, 42may facilitate bottom loading and interlocking of the containers 10 inthat the connectors 40, 42 do not extend beyond the midpoint of thecontainer body 14. FIG. 11 illustrates four containers 10 interlockedwith each other. As shown, the four containers 10 are interlocked bypositioning two bar segments 48 a of cross bars 48 of male connectors 40of diametrically opposed first and second containers 10 a, 10 b within asingle female connector 42 of a third container 10 c, and the remainingbar segments 48 a of the cross bars 48 of the diametrically opposedcontainers 10 a, 10 b in a female connector 42 of a fourth container 10d. Additional containers 10 may be coupled in the same manner.

FIG. 12 illustrates containers 10 in stacked relation. As shown, thegeneral racetrack and oval protrusions and recesses of the base 12 andcover 16 interlock to stabilize the vertically stacked containers 10 inthe manner discussed hereinabove.

FIGS. 13-14 illustrate two containers in interlocked relation with afork lift “f” blade depicted within the gaps 20 of the pedestals 22.

Related subject matter is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. PatentPublication No. 2013/0015183 to Fredette appended hereto, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, theabove description, disclosure, and figures should not be construed aslimiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Itis to be understood, therefore, that the disclosure is not limited tothose precise embodiments, and that various other changes andmodifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container system for use with a forklift, whichcomprises: a plurality of containers, each container including: acontainer body having corner interlocking structure cooperativelyarranged whereby adjacent containers are connectable to each other; abase secured relative to the container body, the base dimensioned tosupport the container body and being adapted to couple with the blade ofthe forklift to permit placement and transport of the containers in aninterlocked relation thereof; and a cover mountable to the containerbody.
 2. The container system according to claim 1 wherein eachcontainer includes a single pedestal, whereby the distance between thepedestals of adjacent coupled containers is at least equal to the widthof the blade of the forklift.
 3. The container system according to claim2 wherein each container body includes male and female connectormembers, the male and female connectors of adjacent containerscooperating to connect the adjacent containers.
 4. The container systemaccording to claim 3 wherein the male and female connectors each extendfor less than half the height of the container body.
 5. The containersystem according to claim 4 wherein each container includes two maleconnectors disposed in diametrical corners of the container body, andtwo female connectors disposed in diametrical corners of the containerbody.
 6. The container system according to claim 5 wherein the coverincludes a contoured surface and wherein the base includes acorresponding contoured surface, the contoured surfaces interlocking tocouple vertically stacked containers.
 7. The container system accordingto claim 1 wherein the interlocking structure is dimensioned andarranged to directly couple three containers.